Cavaliers mark historic 9-0 start by getting coach Kenny Atkinson all wet

NEW ORLEANS -- Taking their cues from Jarrett Allen, nan Cleveland Cavaliers celebrated nan first 9-0 commencement to a play successful franchise history by pouring h2o bottles complete coach Kenny Atkinson's caput successful nan locker room.

There will beryllium overmuch bigger games, pinch higher stakes, than nan Cavs' 131-122 triumph successful New Orleans connected Wednesday night.

But Atkinson didn't mind taking a infinitesimal to bask thing nary different Cavs squad had done successful nan 55 years since Cleveland joined nan NBA for nan 1970-71 season.

“You person to,” said Atkinson, who besides became nan first NBA coach to triumph his first 9 games pinch a caller team. “This season’s truthful long. It's truthful difficult to triumph successful this league. So, erstwhile you do person moments for illustration this, you person to observe a little."

After hitting 54.2% of their shots successful nan Big Easy — including 48.6% (17 of 35) from 3-point scope — nan Cavs are shooting an NBA-best 52.6% connected nan play from nan field.

“We're playing bully basketball,” said All-Star defender Donovan Mitchell, who had a team-high 29 points successful New Orleans, while 5 different teammates scored 11 aliases more. "We've done it successful truthful galore different ways. We've had blowouts, adjacent games, come-from-behind wins.

“It's conscionable nan habits that really get maine excited astir what we're doing,” Mitchell said. “My biggest point is conscionable being consistent. Let's continually beryllium this team.”

Cleveland adjacent plays astatine location Friday nighttime against nan Golden State Warriors, who group nan NBA grounds for nan champion commencement to a play by winning their first 24 games during nan 2015-16 campaign.

Against nan Pelicans, nan Cavs sewage 50 points from reserves while 4 of 5 starters scored 14 aliases more.

“Again, everyone contributes,” Atkinson said. “It's what bully teams do. We're successful a bully spot physically. We're successful a bully spot mentally.

“When you triumph 9 successful a row, it's not 1 aliases 2 guys; it's nan full roster,” he added.

In his 4 erstwhile seasons arsenic a caput coach pinch Brooklyn, Atkinson had conscionable 1 winning record, going 42-40 successful 2018-19.

He spent nan past 4 seasons arsenic an adjunct — nan first pinch nan Los Angeles Clippers and nan past 3 pinch Golden State.

Now, he's disconnected to a alternatively auspicious commencement successful his 2nd caput coaching stint, albeit pinch a squad that won a playoff bid a play agone and was expected to beryllium successful nan Eastern Conference postseason image again this season.

“The vibes are great, energy's great, he's done a phenomenal occupation pinch america and we've besides bought in," Mitchell said. "He's fixed america input but besides allowed america to springiness input ourselves and I deliberation that's what's special.”

Atkinson, meanwhile, sounds gratified by nan synergy he's sensed not only among his players, but betwixt them and himself.

“What I deliberation astir is this squad and nan camaraderie they have, and nan chemistry we person going and really connected they are,” Atkinson said. "I've been fortunate to onshore pinch a really bully group, a group that's been really successful successful nan past and I'm happy for them — and I deliberation they're happy for maine successful nan locker room.

“There's a enslaved betwixt nan caput coach and a team,” Atkinson continued. “You've sewage to observe those moments and it's beautiful cool.”

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